Resin SLA Design Guide

Below are list of guidelines and tips you should note when designing parts in CAD for Resin SLA 3D Printing.

Production Time

1 Working Day

This our average production time, this may vary on size, quantity, quality of 3D data provided and available capacity.

Maximum Build Size

140 X 140 X 140 mm

If your project will exceeds this bounding volume, then you may need to reduce the scale of the object or contact us to discuss alternative methods.

Pricing

The price of a Resin SLA 3D Print is primarily based on the space your model occupies within the bounding box of the printer. We have a rough guide to the cost of Resin SLA prints in our Resin SLA Estimator. Please send us your files for an accurate quote.

We apply a discount to multiple parts.

Accuracy

50 μ

This level of accuracy is based upon the very fine layer thickness of our printer which produces extremely smooth surfaces. The smoother the part, the smoother the cast, which then requires less polishing, less labour, and greater overall accuracy . The X and Y axes can produce up to 16microns accuracy. We have found that some shapes and forms can be more forgiving than others dependant on the overall size, form, density, and orientation. If you are working within fine tolerances we recommend you contact us first to discuss your requirements.

Minimum wall thickness

0.3mm

This thickness will produce enough strength for most requirements. There are many variants when it comes to providing a minimum thickness, depending on the amount of structural support. If you do need parts to be thinner than this and are unfamiliar with this material, we strongly suggest you discuss your objectives with us first.

Minimum Surface Details

0.3mm

This is for details that are extruded or embossed on a surface. Any less than this and they may not appear consistent and clear. We also recommend trying to keep a ratio of 1:1 for the width and depth of these details if you are working close to these limits.

Supports

Resin SLA 3D Printing technology requires support structures in order to print most geometries. As part of our service, our experts will manually prepare these supports for you and remove them afterwards, once printed. Also note that for investment casting there has to remain a space for a sprue to be added for the molten metal to flow into.

Interlocking Parts

We do not recommend interlocking parts in SLA, as there are many complications when it comes to the removal of supports, casting and polishing processes. If you do have something specific in mind please contact us for further advice.

Accessible polishing

Objects cast in metal do not emerge from the mould smooth and shiny, and still need to be manually polished. This means that you have to consider whether all areas of your model are accessible for polishing. This can include enclosed details and deep cavities.

Please note, all of the above are guidelines only. As all of your designs are unique, it is difficult to offer any guarantees. Our in-house Jewellery designer will inform you of any concerns, but for those less familiar with this process are advised to stay within our recommendations.